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No. 404,435. Patented June 4, 1889.

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J. V. BEAMS. AUTOMATIC GUARD FOR RAILROADS.

No. 404,435. Patented June 4, 1889..

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JOHN V. REAMS, OF MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO FREDERICKL. BEAOHAM AND ROGER W. CLASON, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC GUARD FOR RAILROADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,435, dated June 4,1889. Application filed November 6, 1888. Serial No. 290,115. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN V. BEAMS, a citizen 0f the United States,residing at Midland, in the county of Midland and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guardsfor Railroads; and I do declare the following to be a'full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable'ot-hers skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a novel and simplifiedconstruction in an automatic cattle or other guard forrailroadcrossings; and the nature thereof consists in connecting withthe ordinary track-rails auxiliary rails pivoted at their outer ends,the opposite ends thereof provided with forks carrying-links having armsformed thereon, which work in bearings projecting from a shaft havingteeth or pickets, said auxiliary rails provided with pins, and springsseated in cups encircling the said pins, as hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts aredesignated by similar letters, Figure 1 is a side view of my invention.Fig. 2 is a top View of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken onthe line as 00 of Fig. 2, and Figs. 4 and 5 are details thereof.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the ordinary track-rails, and Bthe road-bed.

Two auxiliary rails 0, having channels c,are laid parallel with therails A, their outer ends being pivoted or hingedin any suitablemanner,in order to allowtheiropposite ends to move to and from the bedof the railroad. Near the inner ends of the auxiliary rails C aresecured two forks c, opposite one another, to which are hinged links D,having arms d formed thereon at right angles, which work in bearings inlugs e projecting from a shaft E. The shaft E is suitably secured inbearings fixed beneath the rails A, by which means the teeth or picketssecured to the same are thrown below the level of the rails. Cups F arealso secured to the rails A, carrying coil-springsf, which bear againstthe under surface of the auxiliary rails, and are held in position bymeans of pins f, secured to the said rails O. A flat spring G is alsoplaced beneath the auxiliary rails, in order to assist in the directoperation of the teeth or pickets. In this construction it will be seenthat the links D are connected to the shaft E, opposite one another, bymeans which will always cause the teeth or pickets to fall away from thetrain.

It is to be observed that a similar device is used at each side of acrossing.

From the above description it will be seen that as the train approachesthe crossing the inner rims of the wheels enter the groovesin theauxiliary rails and press them down, and by means of the links D causethe shaft E to turn or rotate, allowing the train free passage over theteeth or pickets. When, however, the weight of the train is removed, theteeth or pickets will be raised into an upright position by means of thesprings f and G.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

In an automatic cattle or other guard for railroads, the combination ofthe auxiliary rails C, pivoted at one end, forks c, secured thereto,carrying-links D, provided with arms cl, shafts E, secured in bearingsand provided with teeth or pickets, lugs e, secured to the said shaftsE, for receiving the arms d, and coil-springs f, seated in cups F andheld in position by means of pins f, secured to the auxiliary rails, asand for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN V. BEAMS.

Witnesses:

WM. DAVIDSON, B. B. BALL.

